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718 Cyclery
Category: Shopping Sporting Goods Bikes Bikes [Edit]
254 3rd Ave(between Union St & President St)
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Neighborhood: Gowanus
(347) 457-5760
- Nearest Transit:
-
Union St (D, N, R)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 9 am - 9 pm
Sat-Sun 9 am - 6 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- Yes
13 reviews for 718 Cyclery
Review Highlights
13 reviews in English
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Review from John C.
Fresh Meadows, NY
5/24/2012
The first thing a savvy cyclist shouldn't expect from a bike shop is that somehow they are the omniscient bearded demi-god masters of everything bicycle. I have never seen a bike mechanic simply glare at a bike and immediately find that one of your 35 year old derailleur pulleys has given up the ghost or that your bottom bracket shell has 10 years of dried snot in it.
No, they are human. And if I bring in my 35 year old obscure Italian racing bicycle or my father's rusty 70's Schwinn Tandem for a total overhaul, I expect it to take some time for them to Sherlock the bike and work out every little kink. Mechanics are a lot like professional puzzle solvers in that sense.
In the end, what you have to understand about bike shops is that they are NOT working on THEIR own bikes. They are working on YOUR bike.Therefore, some detachment from their work is understandable given the thousands of bikes that go through the workbench. This shop comes closest to a level of care that even my obsessive bike fetish self find comfortable with.
For the longest time (about two years of serious cycling), I been going to local bike shops in Flushing, Queens and fancier shops in Manhattan for repairs/flats/tune-ups. Most of those places have been a disappointment. At one shop, after paying for a $100+ tune up on a 1972 Schwinn Delux Tandem, I had to remind the shopkeeper to true the wheels right after he took the bike off the stand and told me it was done. I have this recurring experience with other shops as well. I go in for a tune up, pay cash, and when done, feel uncertain about what constitutes a 'tune-up'. It seems some places just took my money and spent an hour staring at my bike before declaring a job well done. Why is it given that most bike shops have the shop areas in the back, away from customer view? Why can't they all be open like 718c?
718 has come the closest of all bike shops in the city to finding the equivalent of a bike-nerd racing uncle who knows everything about bikes and will sit with you patiently to hammer out all of the problems. The workshop area in the back is open for free bike maintenance and wheel building classes. You can even sit in with the mechanics and ask them to explain every bit of action to you as they do work on your bike.
It is this open-back policy that sets this place apart. Joe, the owner, is warm, friendly, and answered many of my dumb questions. Pablo is a magician of a mechanic and allowed me to shadow him ominously as he worked to fix a rare pantographed Campagnolo seatpost that I had carelessly stripped. They even taught me how to repack my own hubs and didn't hesitate to help when I feel like it was way over my head. I haven't brought a bike from them yet, but it sounds like a pretty exciting and novel idea for them to sit with you one on one and discuss part by part according to needs and budget. I am speaking from the experience of taking a free class there and trusting my old trusty Italian racer to them for a restoration.
All in all, this is one of the finest business in New York City. I personally recommend this place if you're a commuter or are shopping for a new bicycle but find the choices overwhelming. Their focus seems not to be at selling the latest high-end carbon monocoque, peloton-worthy, Trek Madone SSLs, but a place that offers approachable , quality everyday bicycles. A place like this can enhance a New York cyclist's or commuter's way of life, what more can you ask of a bike shop? -
Review from Aaron B.
Brooklyn, NY
2/18/2012
It's hard to give 718 Cyclery just five stars. It's a business like no other, that doesn't exist in many cities across our country.
For the past couple years, I have been looking into building a bike. Getting information from friends, couriers and family members on how to do it. I wanted to do it on my own and had so many questions about parts, difference between types of bikes and even wanted to know how to fix it on my own.
I was recommended 718 Cyclery through various channels of the internet and communication by word of mouth. They offered everything I was looking for.
That is the key.
Joe and his team are working WITH you to build what YOU want, not what they want.
I mentioned to Joe, as well, when first talking about my bike, that I'd like to try and make 2-3 payments on it instead of one lump sum and he worked with me on that as well. A crucial thing for me, as I work in freelance production where my paycheck can be held up for 60-90 days at a time which makes financial planning very difficult.
Pablo Airaldi and Joe really taught me how to put my bike together, adjust breaks and the tools I will need -- and even provided me a cup of coffee.
I highly recommend 718, and just be sure that you do your research before building/revamping your bike. They're not there to TELL you what to do, but to guide you into learning what to do while providing advice and guidance towards building a bike that fits that fleeting thought in your head.
Thanks guys.
Aaron Bengtson -
Review from Asher R.
Brooklyn, NY
1/23/2012
Working with Joe at 718 Cyclery is an absolute pleasure.
I came into the shop knowing that I wanted to build a fixed gear bike and with three frames in mind that I had been debating. I had pro's and con's worked out on each, and Joe sat with me, hearing me out and eventually guiding me towards the frame I pretty much knew I wanted in the first place (but needed reassurances to that fact). After settling on the frame, we talked over all the components that I was looking for; and Joe sent me on my way with a complete, dynamic Google Doc that outlined every single component of my new bike as an easy to read estimate.
From there, Joe was incredibly helpful and always available by email for a wide range of small/nitpicky questions: it's really impressive to me how much 718c understands that what's a little question to them can end up being an incredibly important detail to their customer...something not every custom shop (bikes or otherwise) get.
Anyways, long story short...after about a month of back and forth as I got together the cash and made decisions on the components, the date was set and I built my bike last Friday. The collaborative build was a great experience: I was able to do almost all of the assembly myself, getting clear and friendly guidance from Alfred, one of the staff members.
If you're in the market to build up a bike from scratch, I recommend paying these guys a visit. Best bike store I've ever been to, period. -
Review from Eric H.
Brooklyn, NY
1/21/2012
It isn't often you get exactly what you want, but things are different at 718 Cyclery.
I had been thinking about getting a bike for a while. Browsing online, I saw lots of nice things, but nothing that was exactly what I wanted. So I filled out a form on the 718 Cyclery website and soon I was in the shop, talking to Joe about frames and parts.
The discussion continued online, via a shared spreadsheet of every part and what it would cost. Frankly, after looking at the limited options on other sites, I was a little overwhelmed with the prospect of selecting whatever I wanted. After some back and forth, the parts were selected and we had a date to put the bicycle together.
Side by side, Joe walked me through each part and how they fit together. In about an hour, I rode out the door with exactly the bike I wanted. Throughout the process, everyone I met was friendly, up-front and delightfully absent hipster attitude.
About a month after putting the bike together, I had trouble with one of the wheels while out on a ride. I rode over to the new shop in Gowanus and Joe took care of it right away, refusing to charge for the repair, and offering to rebuild the whole wheel if I had any more issues.
The whole experience was so good that I'm already thinking about building the next bike and what I'd like to do differently. I can't recommend 718 Cyclery more strongly. And the new shop in Gowanus is fantastic. -
Review from Alexis G.
9/2/2011
This is the closest bike shop to my house and I am SO SAD that they're moving to Gowanus in November.
Though I have yet to purchase anything here, the service is incredible. They're pretty well stocked in terms of gear, and anything they don't have, they are more than happy to order for you. You get to page through their catalogs directly, and do comparison shopping on their computer. They're very real about how much things cost, and how much each feature on something such as saddlebags will cost. They tell you exactly when the item you order will be in by, and are more than willing to order things in custom colors or styles for you. So friendly, so clean, so organized. If only they weren't moving further away! -
Review from Mickey M.
5/9/2011
I was biking from Bensonhurst to Prospect Park with my girlfriend when her rear tire suffered a flat. 718 Cyclery happened to be the closest bike shop from where we were in the park, and I think we really lucked out.
We both ride pretty old generic bikes. 718 Cyclery is a custom build shop(is that the right term?), and they were unbelievably helpful with the flat tire. Not only that, when I asked them to replace a missing spoke on my bike, they discovered another busted spoke and replaced that as well.
What impressed me was their patience with a ton of questions that are probably mundane(ie, "Can I mis-use a spoke wrench?" and "Do cheaply made bikes = cheaply made spokes?", the answer to both can be yes).
While talking with the guys here, I began to wonder if a custom built bike would be something that could be a good fit for me. I'm not really sure if it is, but based on their great customer service, I'm going to consult these guys if I do decide to go that route.
On top of everything, they're familiar with the bike shop scene, and knew about the bike shop I normally use in Bensonhurst. I know if I have future emergencies while riding in the area, I can trust these guys to get things done for me. -
Review from Ryan K.
Brooklyn, NY
11/28/2011
These guys really are as good as it gets. Joe and Pablo are friendly, knowledgeable, smart guys, and are extremely helpful.
After having gone to at least 10 other shops around NYC, I can confidently say that 718c is by far my favorite bike shop. Unlike most other bike shops, 718c is oriented towards establishing relationships with people, and developing a community of learning and collaboration around bikes first. There is no "hard sell" here. Joe is a stand up guy, and seems most interested in providing a good experience for people rather than making more sales.
I've both gone to classes here ("Bearings and Wheel Truing") and custom built a bike with Joe and Pablo. Both were extremely worthwhile experiences. Everyone who rides and is curious about the mechanics of bikes should check out at least one class (all of which are FREE). And, if you're in the market for a new bike, you owe it to yourself to check these guys out.
I can't recommend these guys highly enough. Truly one of the best local businesses in Brooklyn. -
Review from Jo M.
Brooklyn, NY
8/2/2011
If you are looking to custom build your own bike, then this is NOT the place for you, contrary to some of the five star yelp reviews.
I was looking to have a recently procured vintage Bianchi road bike completely made over. I wanted to customize every aspect of the bike while keeping the frame intact. Most importantly, I wanted to make sure that the frame was the right fit for me. I headed to 718 Cyclery since they claim to specialize in "collaborative builds" and are located in the neighborhood. When I walked into the small shop, I looked around and didn't see much in the way of parts, but saw lots of custom made bikes. I was greeted by the very friendly owner, Joe, who spent a few minutes with me discussing ideas that I had for the bike. I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted, but knew I wanted to trick my bike out a bit. I explained that I wanted to pick out components and look at options and he suggested that he'll come up with an estimate and then email it to me on Sunday night and then we can set up an appointment to discuss it. I emphasized that I wanted to see parts and most importantly, that I wanted to make sure that the bike would fit properly, because I wasn't going to spend money on upgrading it without it fitting. He insisted that he didn't have much time at the moment, and would send me an estimate with several ideas and then we could discuss the details over a scheduled appointment. I left my bike that Friday evening.
When I got the estimate, it barely had any selection. I think he gave me two options for pedals and one option for everything else and that was about it. It wasn't what I wanted and only one item had a picture. I really wanted to see parts, wheels, rims and something tangible that I could pick and choose in the shop. I emailed him for an appointment, which then took 4 days.
When I arrived at the shop, I explained more of what I was looking for and that my main priority was still to see if the bike was a good fit. He had me get on it and then proceeded to tell me that he wasn't sure what he could do about the neck of the bike. He though it was too short and may not work out. I also mentioned that I preferred straight handlebars, which he didn't have in the shop. He then told me that straight handlebars would definitely not work out. Then I explained that I have to know whether or not the bike would fit and that I can't order anything without knowing that first. He then told me that he has an excellent "fitter" but that he's busy now and I would have to make an appointment to come back and see him to get fitted for my bike. He suggested I call back the next day to make another appointment.
Meanwhile, I brought a friend along, who owns a custom vintage Bianchi and used to be a bike messenger. You can only imagine how in shock we both were that he had no idea how to help us. I mean, how does the owner of a "collaborative build" bike shop not know what parts would work best to fit a customer on a bike? And now I have to come back a third time for your business because you aren't sure whether or not my bike will fit!? And you don't even suggest a different neck, which I find out later at another shop can easily be changed? And you don't even have a catalog or sample parts or anything in the shop to give me the slightest idea of how to put together my own collaborative build? Wow. I was outta there. The only good thing I have to say is that he was very nice. Unfortunately nice doesn't make up for bike knowledge. Sorry.
So you should also know that based on my friend's recommendation, I decided to go all the way over to Greenpoint to B's Bikes. The minute I walked in, someone came over to assist me and immediately understood what I wanted to do. He had a wrench in his hand and moved my seat and had me ride around so we could figure out the handlebar and neck changes that had to be made to match my comfort level. Then he brought over a sample of suggested necks and handlebars. We moved from one part to the next as he showed me samples of everything we could do and even made suggestions. Ethan told me everything I needed to hear about my bike in 10 minutes, while 718 Cyclery seemed confused after two visits! I had everything I wanted for my bike ordered within 40 minutes and it took less than a week to get back. My bike is completely tricked out better than what I had envisioned and is absolutely gorgeous thanks to Ethan. I should also mention that I dropped over $500 on my bike, so 718 Cyclery really missed out. Check out my review of B's if you're thinking of building or customizing your own bike. I wouldn't go anywhere else.Comment from Joseph N. of 718 Cyclery 8/2/2011
Sorry you didn't find what you were looking for with us, and… More » -
Review from stacey s.
Brooklyn, NY
8/24/2011
Took a 70's era road bike in for a basic tune-up, which cost me $55. They gave an accurate estimate, then called me up right when it was ready. Not crowded, good service, comes with my recommendations.
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Review from Anand P.
Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY
6/28/2010
You simply can't beat this bicycle shop. The customer service, customer involvement, product quality, bicycle knowledge is honestly second to none. 718 Cyclery is a down to earth establishment that works for its customers. Part for part this shop offers the best prices and best advice on bikes around. All bikes made here are one of a kind collaborations. The customer is truly involved in every step of the process of making his perfect bike. I can't possibly tell you how much I appreciate this shop.
The only proof that I can give as testament to this shop is that I got so into cycling after purchasing a bike from here that I am now in process of building 2nd bike with Joe. This one I'm sure will be just as sweet as the first. -
Review from Chuni B.
Brooklyn, NY
2/14/2010
I learned of this local bike repair workshop right here on Yelp and I'm happy I took the advice. Last summer Joe refurbished my old Schwinn 3-speed and made it rideable again. He's patient, knowlegdeable, friendly, and seems to have a passion for what he does. In addition to thoroughly explaining what I needed, he summarized it all on a detailed estimate spreadsheet. I appreciated his punctuality and reasonable rates. He doesn't try to upsell you on items that you don't need. I like that.
________________
Your take aways:
(1) Attitude free zone.
(2) Friendly and professional.
(3) Great service. -
Review from anna b.
Brooklyn, NY
7/29/2010
First off, what a great concept! I can't believe that collaborative builds aren't more common... and Joe is definitely the best person to go to for this. Not only is he very knowledgeable about bikes, he is a great teacher as well and never makes you feel intimidated, which is what I think a lot of people fear when going to bike shops. You can really tell he is doing this out of his love for it.
I could really not be more pleased with the experience. Within 2 weeks of my first contacting him, I rode away with an awesome, quality bike that is totally unique at a fraction of what it would have cost me buying a new bike. -
Review from Adam G.
Manhattan, NY
4/29/2010
As many of the previous reviewers have noted, the experience was awesome. What I would like to really emphasize however was the ease with which the hole process goes down. The interactive google docs really lets you fine tune what you want and have an on going dialogue/quote - his response time is super fast.
One other nice surprise was the option of paying by credit card. I knew this was a small operation and therefore had assumed I'd either be forking over a huge wad of cash or possibly a check.
